How would traditional education change if more emphasis was placed on investing in strengths rather than correcting weaknesses? This is a question Nora Cox thinks about often.

Cox, senior instructor of communication at Missouri State University, is a certified Strengths Finder Coach. She believes the assessment – developed by the Gallup organization – is a powerful tool that could inspire a paradigm shift.

“If you understand the tools you have in your toolbox, and know where to invest that time and get the results you want, I think it will save you a lot of anxiety,” Cox said. “I think a university is about understanding, and that’s what Strengths Finder is all about. It helps us understand ourselves and each other.”

When she leads groups of colleagues or students in the assessment, bridges are built, she noted.

“If I’m working on a project with someone and we really need to accomplish something, it gives me a new way to understand them and what they bring to the table,” she said. “It unlocks people a bit and allows you to understand their perspective.

Job satisfaction is one goal of the assessment, added Cox.

For more information, contact Cox at 417-836-3132.